Improvement in corpse-preservers



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOVARI) V. GRIFFITH, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO HIM- SELF, D. NV. A. BELFORD, AND J. M. HILEMAN, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT iN CORPSE-PRESERVERS.

Specification forming part of Lett-frs Patent No. 108,350, dated October 18, 1870.

To all whom, t may concern:

Beit known that I, HOWARD V. GRIFFITH, of Altoona, Blair county, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Corpse- Preserving Gaskets; and I do declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters marked thereon.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my casket with the lid open, and the inner chamber shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the same, showing the position ofthe corpse on the traveling bier, which is partially withdrawn.

My invention consists of a corpse-chamber.

vsurrounded by an ice-chamber, and having no communication therewith for either vapor, water, or air, and also of a traveling bier or cooling-board to receive the body and carry the same into the corpse-chamber.

In constructing my improved casket I first make a strong boX or ice-chamber, A, and attach casters B and suitable handles, C, as seen in Fig. 1. rllhis box is then lined throughout with zinc-plate D, so as to be air and Water tight. At the top is a door or lid, E, for putting in ice, this door being seen open in Fig. l. A tube and stop-cock, F, serves to draw off the water from the melting ice.

Inclosed in the ice-chamber above described is a corpseachamber, G, which` is also made air and water tight. This chamber is surrounded, except at its door, with an ice-space, H, and thus kept completely cold. The bier or cooling-board I is connected with the door K of the chamber, and may travel in and out upon sliding ways L and the casters on the foot of the door. the door K serves to ventilate the corpsechamber, as desired, and by removing any vapor that may arise-from the corpse keep this chamber perfectly dry. The coolingboard may be trimmed and the body laid thereon, or it may receive the coiin, as desired.

By the above arrangement the body may at any time be examined without opening the ice-chamber, and the corpse-chamber being kept dry as well as cool, the body will be bet ter preserved.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In combination with the traveling bier I, the arrangement of the ice-chamber in relation to the corpse-chamber and the door, substan-V tially as set forth.

2. In combination with the traveling bier I, the ice-chamber, entirely surrounding it and not communicating therewith, and the door E, substantially as set forth.

, HOVARD V. GRIFFITH.

Vitiiesses:

JOHN SHOEMAIIER, J. B. IVARIPEI..

A tube, M', in connection with 

